Monday, Feb. 10, 1986
Nation/World
University Daily Kansan
9
U.S. influence in Lebanon cools
United Press International
WASHINGTON — After the loss of 300 American lives and a diplomatic defeat in Lebanon, the United States has decided it cannot prevent Syria from either destroying that country or taking it over.
The Lebanese government of President Amin Gemayel, disillusioned by U.S. unwillingness to bring its superpower influence to bear, has specifically asked the United States not to intercede.
As a result, the United States, which had 1,000 peacekeeping troops in Lebanon two years ago, did not even make any official comment when Syrian-backed troops shelled the Lebanese presidential palace.
That is the building where Secretary of State George Shultz negotiated his May 17, 1983, agreement that was supposed to lead to the withdrawal of Syrian and Israeli troops from Lebanon.
Two years ago, the United States was giving Lebanon $250 million in aid. This year, the State Department has asked Congress for only $2 million for Lebanon — in effect, just enough to pay the interest on former loans now coming due.
Gemayel and his forces control only a tiny series of enclaves in and near Beirut. The symbol of Gemayel's power, the stone Baabda palace overlooking Beirut, is regularly pounded with artillery fired by Syrian-backed forces.
The Syrians, who remained in Lebanon, are now the largest military force in the country, and the Israelis control only a thin slice of territory near their northern border.
The Syrians have now decided to make their presence permanent and more than military with their peace accord that they want Lebanese leadership to sign. The accord would make Lebanon a Syrian satellite.
A State Department official who read over the accord recently told a Lebanese-American, "This is worse than anything the Soviets ever expected Czechoslovakia to sign."
Among other things, according to U.S. officials, that makes the release of the American hostages in Lebanon, who are believed held by Iranian-sponsored terrorist groups, more remote.
Gemayel has repeated his vow not to sign the accord and, according to Lebanese diplomats, considered resigning his post but has now changed his mind — apparently signalling a new and destructive round in the Lebanese tragedy, with Syrian-backed forces conducting a war of attrition and terror in the streets of Lebanese cities.
The United States, which suffered the loss of 241 Marine lives in an October 1983 blast and has lost another 50 lives in two embassy building blasts, has steadily reduced its presence and power in Lebanon.
WASHINGTON — President Reagan's budget has been presented as the great spending slasher, the blueprint for a shrinking government. But a tour through the 700-plus page detailed version reveals vast inconsistencies.
United Press International
Budget cuts are inconsistent
For instance, Reagan wrote of his reluctance to attack the family budget with taxes — but he proposed an increase in the White House's household budget.
Reagan decided to ax small business loans but requested more money for processing an anticipated increase in business and personal bankruptcies this year.
Perhaps the strangest logic is that the budget proposes an increase in the amount allotted members of Congress for mileage when gasoline prices are falling. And many lawmakers are looking to a gasoline or oil tax as a way to raise revenue on the theory that most people won't notice.
Reagan submitted his $994 billion fiscal year 1987 budget to Congress last week. The budget called for $38 billion in spending reductions in almost every area but Social Security, no new taxes and an increase in financing for the military.
The budget is an attack on government services. In detail, that attack sometimes breaks down.
The Reagan budget dropped financing for the National Cancer Institute from $1.3 billion to $1.2 billion. The Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration financing was cut from $958 million to $892 million. But AIDS research got an extra
But AIDS research got an extra $213 million next fiscal year
At the White House, the budget called for financing for the repair, alteration, refurnishing and improvement of heating and lighting. It included an increase of funds for electric power and fixtures from $4.5 million to $4.9 million.
Fishermen were hit two ways — at work and at play.
The budget calls for a new federal
marine recreational fishing licenses, of $10 per angler with receipts to be shared equally between the federal government and individual states.
News analysis
The commercial fishermen's contingency fund, used in the past to provide compensation to commercial fishermen for damages or loss of fishing gear in rough water, was terminated.
The Reagan budget called for credit programs of the Small Business Administration to end next year. But in this year's supplemental request, the administration asked for $1.2 million to finance an additional 200 deputy clerk positions for three months to compensate for the projected increase in bankruptcy petition filings and related workload in the district courts.
The budget does not say which employees get raises, but contains an increase for IRS workers.
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